Lighting fixture



June 13, 1939. J. F. O'BRIEN LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,ILMI

Filed NOV. 29, 1955 INVENTOR JF 0B/P/f/V. BY

ATTORNE Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,1 2,515 LIGHTING FIXTURE Application November 29, 1935, Serial No. 52,127

.11 Claims.

This invention relates to reflectors or shades used in connection with incandescent electric lamps, and more particularly to a simplified fixture applicable to astandard overhead socket.

The use of reflectors or shades in connection with incandescent electric lamps is extensive and many types'of fixtures have been used, particularly in connection with overhead lighting units where it is desirable to transmit difiused light and to gain the benefit of light reflected from the ceiling of a room. The advantage of this form of illumination has brought about the use of numerous types of globes or reflectors to obtain what is termed modernized lighting. When the lighting effects areplanned in connection with the building of a house it is simple to build in the fixtures and obtain the desired modernized lighting effect. However, in buildings already constructed the addition of the usual reflectors or shades entails an additional cost which is in many cases prohibitive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple form of reflector or shade applicable to the standard sockets in buildings where it is desirable to modernize the old style built-in equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reflector unit in which the elements of the re flector are carried'by the means employed for attaching and electrically connecting a bulb to a socket.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inverted lighting, unit which may be directly secured and electrically connected to a standard r socket.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an overhead lighting unit having a switch-operating pull-cord arranged to pass through the wall of the reflector to facilitate the operation of the switch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reflector of the overhead inverted type having an operating pull-cord passing through an aperture in the reflector, the reflector being so constructed as to .be adjusted to facilitate the operation of the pull-cord and toavoid detrimental strains on the reflector parts.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a lighting fixture constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a reflector, showing supporting means;

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line Il1-III in Fig. 2, but shows only the reflector to bring out the ribbed construction;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the reflector with the pull-cord in position for operation;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but shows the reflector tilted to facilitate the action of the pull- =10 cord; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a modified form of the carrier for the reflector.

The selected embodiment of the invention is directed to a fixture applied to a lamp-receiving socket H) of the usual standard type with a flexible pull-chain II to operate the usual switch. The socket is provided with a screw plug i2 which may be screwed into a standard socket it, such for example, as provided on the ceiling of a room to receive an incandescent lamp.

The socket Ill is provided with a threaded portion M to hold an internally threaded collar l5. This collar supports a reflector or shade 16 by means of a yoke having arms I1 and H8. The upper ends of the arms are pivotally attached at l9 and 20 to the collar [5 and extend downwardly on opposite sides of any suitable type of lamp bulb 22 having its base screwed into the socket Ill. The lower ends of the arms are se- '30 cured to a ring 23 whichsurrounds and is secured to one end of a nipple or tubular member 24 having external threads 25. The nipple extends through an aperture 26 in the bottom of the reflector and its axis is substantially coincident with the normal vertical axis of the reflector when supported in its normal depending position.

The perimeter of the aperture 26 may be provided with a reinforced edge 2'! and with further reinforcements in the form ofv radial ribs 28. The reflector may be made of any suitable light refleeting material such as metal, or it may be of translucent glass, or of a material such as Beetleware.

The reflector is pressed in fixed relation to the collar 23 by means of a spring washer 29, held in contact with the lower surface of the reflector by a thumbnut 30 which engages the threads 25 on the nipple 24. The thumb nut 30 and washer 29 may be made ornamental to conform with the reflector or shade, and the shade may be of any suitable shape and provided with light-diffusing portions 3| and 32, or may be 'plain,-depending on the style of fixture desired. 55

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the pull chain or cable H extends through the reflector, and inasmuch as this is an overhead fixture the chain may extend downwardly to within convenient reach.

When the chain is pulled, it bears against the spherical portion of the bulb and exerts a lateral force causing the reflector to tilt or rock about its pivot points l9 and 20, thus avoiding any strain on the support members which carry the reflector. As will be noted, the socket I0 is so positioned with relation to the reflector supports, that the pull-chain hangs substantially midway between the arms I! and I 8. It has been found in practice, however, even when the chain hangs relatively close to one of the arms that a pull upon the chain will exert a force against the spherical portion of the bulb, and the tendency is for the bulb to slide about the chain so that the reflector is moved about its pivots.

Fig. 6 shows a modification of the pivotal support in which an internally threaded ring 33 is provided with a semi-spherical surface to receive a split collar 34 arranged to rock at all angles to the vertical. The arms I! and I8 are secured to the ring so that the reflector will be free to tilt in all directions under stress imparted by the chain when operated to switch the current on or off.

The present invention provides a simple and effective form of shade or reflector which may be quickly and conveniently installed, making it possible at low cost to convert any standard overhead socket with a modern form of lighting unit.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, it is to be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lighting unit comprising a switch element adapted to receive an electric lamp, a plug integral with said switch element for attachment to a socket for supporting said unit, a dishshaped reflector having an aperture in the bottom wall thereof, a tubular member disposed in said aperture, means for securing said member to said wall, arms extending between said tubular member and said switch element for supporting said reflector, a switch-operating member extending through said tubular member, and pivot means for said arms whereby said reflector may be tilted to one side of said lamp to facilitate the action of said switch-operating member.

2. A lighting unit comprising a reflector, a socket-switch formed to receive an incandescent electric lamp, a screw plug on said socket-switch for electrically connecting and attaching it to a standard socket, a reflector pivotally supported from said socket-switch so that it can swing to one side of the lamp to facilitate operation of the switch, said reflector having an aperture in the wall thereof and a cable extending through said aperture for actuating said switch.

3. A lighting unit comprising a reflector, a socket-switch formed to receive an incandescent electric lamp, a screw plug on said socket-switch for electrically connecting and attaching it to a standard socket, and a reflector pivotally supported from said socket-switch so that it can swing to one side of the lamp to avoid interference with the operation of said switch, said reflector having an aperture on the axial line thereof and a flexible cord extending through said aperture for the operation of said switch.

4. A lighting unit comprising a dish-shaped reflector, a socket-switch to receive an incandescent lamp, a reflector supporting member pivotally connected to said socket-switch, said reflector having an aperture through the bottom wall thereof coincident with the normal vertical axis of the reflector, a switch operating cable extending through said aperture, said cable operating when pulled to cause the reflector to tilt and. avoid strains on the reflector supporting member.

5. A ceiling lighting unit comprising a dishshaped reflector, a switch element having on one side a socket to receive an incandescent electric lamp and on the other side a screw plug for insertion into a standard overhead socket, pivoted members extending from said switch element for supporting said reflector for swinging to one side of said lamp when the switch element is operated, said reflector having an aperture in the bottom wall thereof and a switch operating cable extending through said aperture.

6. A ceiling lighting unit comprising a dishshaped reflector, a switch element having on one side a socket to receive an incandescent electric lamp and on the other side a screw plug for insertion into a standard overhead socket, a support for holding said reflector in position relative to said lamp, means for pivotally attaching said support to said switch element, said refiector having an aperture normally in line with the longitudinal axis of said bulb, and a flexible cable extending through said aperture and operating when pulled to tilt the reflector to avoid stress on the socket element.

7. A lighting unit comprising a reflector having a generally central aperture through its bottom wall, a socket-switch formed to receive an incandescent electric lamp, switch operating means extending through said aperture, and means pivotally supporting said reflector from said socketswitch so that when the switch operating means is pulled, the reflector is tilted to one side of said lamp to avoid strains.

8. A lighting unit comprising a reflector having a centrally positioned aperture, a lamp-receiving socket comprising a switch element and screw plug adapted for connection with a standard socket, means for swingably supporting said reflector from said lamp-receiving socket whereby the reflector and its lamp are adapted for removal as a unit with said socket by merely unscrewing the latter from the standard socket, and means passing through the aperture in said reflector for operating said switch element, the operation being facilitated by the swingable support permitting tilting of the reflector.

9. A lighting unit comprising a reflector, a combined lamp socket and switch element, means for supporting said reflector from said combined socket and switch element, comprising a yoke swingably connected to a collar at its upper end, said collar threadably engaging said combined element, whereby said reflector may be conveniently removed by unscrewing said collar, said reflector having a centrally disposed aperture, and a flexible switch-operating cord extending through said aperture.

10. A lighting unit comprising a dish-shaped reflector having a centrally disposed aperture, a lamp-receiving socket comprising a screw plug adapted for connection with a standard socket and a. switch element, means for swingably supporting said reflector from said lamp-receiving socket whereby the reflector and its lamp are adapted for removal as a unit with said socket by merely unscrewing the latter from a standard socket, and a switch operating member extending through the aperture in said reflector.

11. A lighting unit comprising a combined lamp socket plug and switch element adapted for attachment to a standard socket for the support of said unit, a dish-shaped reflector having a central aperture in its bottom wall, a tubular member disposed in said aperture, means for securing said member to said wall, and a yoke extending between said member and said combined element for supporting said reflector, said yoke having a collar at its upper end threadably engaging said combined element whereby said reflector may be conveniently removed by unscrewing said collar, said yoke being swingably connected to said collar, and a switch operating mem- I ber extending through said tubular member.

JOSEPH F. O'BRIEN. 

